Rent Affordability Calculator
Calculate how much rent you can afford based on your income using multiple proven methods. Get personalized recommendations and landlord qualification checks.
Your Budget
Enter your income to get started
Add your monthly income above to see how much you can afford for rent.
Enter Your Income to Get Started
Add your monthly income and expenses to see how much you can afford for rent while still saving for your goals.
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How Our Rent Affordability Calculator Works
Our rent affordability calculator uses the Expenses-First Method—a personalized approach that starts with your real financial situation instead of applying arbitrary percentage rules. Unlike traditional calculators that ignore your actual expenses, we help you understand what you can truly afford based on what's left after your monthly costs.
Why Most Rent Calculators Get It Wrong
Traditional rent calculators use outdated rules like "spend 30% of your income" without considering your actual expenses. If you have student loans, car payments, or high utility costs, those rules don't reflect your reality. Our expenses-first approach shows you exactly what remains after your monthly costs, then lets you decide how to split it between rent and savings—no judgment, just clarity.
Calculate How Much Rent You Can Afford in 3 Steps
Enter Your Monthly Income
Start by entering your monthly income. You can use either gross (before taxes) or net (take-home) income—we'll calculate everything based on your net income since that's what you actually have to spend. If you enter gross income, we'll estimate your take-home pay using your tax rate.
Result: Your baseline monthly income for budgeting
List Your Monthly Expenses (Excluding Rent)
Add up all your monthly expenses: debts (student loans, credit cards, car payments), utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance, and any other regular costs. Don't include rent—that's what we're calculating! Be honest about your spending to get accurate results.
Result: Your fixed monthly costs—what you must pay regardless of where you live
Use the Slider to Split the Remainder
Once you see your available budget (income minus expenses), use the interactive slider to decide how much goes to rent and how much to savings. Slide left for more savings, slide right for more rent. The calculator shows you exactly how this affects your monthly budget in real-time.
Result: Your personalized rent budget based on your priorities
Why the Expenses-First Approach Gives Better Results
Personalized
Adapts to YOUR situation, not national averages. Whether you have $500/month in student loans or $50, the calculator accounts for your real expenses.
Realistic
Based on your actual expenses, not hypothetical percentages. You see exactly what you can afford after paying your bills.
No Judgment
Doesn't tell you you're "spending too much" or force arbitrary limits. You control the balance between rent and savings based on your priorities.
Flexible
Adjust the slider based on your priorities. Want to save aggressively? Slide left. Need a nicer place? Slide right. The choice is yours.
Finding Your Ideal Rent-to-Savings Ratio
Our rent affordability calculator includes preset ratios to help you get started, but you can adjust the slider to any balance that works for you. Here's what each preset means:
50/50 (Balanced)
Maximum financial security with aggressive savings. Perfect if you're building an emergency fund, saving for a down payment, or prioritizing long-term financial goals. You'll build savings quickly while still having a comfortable place to live.
Example: With $2,000 available, you'd allocate $1,000 to rent and $1,000 to savings each month.
70/30 (Typical)
A good balance for most renters. You'll still save a healthy amount (typically 10-15% of your net income) while having more budget for rent. This ratio works well if you want a nice place without sacrificing your financial future.
Example: With $2,000 available, you'd allocate $1,400 to rent and $600 to savings each month.
85/15 (Max Rent)
When you prioritize location, amenities, or living space. You'll still save something each month (about 5-10% of net income), but most of your available budget goes to rent. Consider this if you're in a high-cost area or value your living situation highly.
Example: With $2,000 available, you'd allocate $1,700 to rent and $300 to savings each month.
Building Your Emergency Fund
Financial experts recommend saving 3-6 months of expenses in an emergency fund. Use the savings portion from your rent affordability calculation to work toward this goal. Even with the 85/15 ratio, consistent savings will build your emergency fund over time.
Tips to Afford More Rent (Or Save More)
Increase Your Available Budget
- • Review and reduce unnecessary expenses
- • Refinance high-interest debt to lower payments
- • Negotiate better rates on insurance or utilities
- • Look for ways to increase your income
Find Better Rent Deals
- • Negotiate rent, especially for longer leases
- • Look in neighborhoods slightly outside prime areas
- • Consider roommates to split costs
- • Time your search during slower rental seasons
- • Ask about move-in specials or promotions
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent Affordability
Should I use gross or net income in the rent affordability calculator?
You can use either! If you enter gross income (before taxes), our calculator will estimate your take-home pay using your tax rate. However, we calculate everything based on net income since that's what you actually have available to spend. For the most accurate results, enter your net (take-home) income directly.
What expenses should I include when calculating rent affordability?
Include all your regular monthly expenses: debts (student loans, credit cards, car payments), utilities (if you'll pay them separately), groceries, transportation, insurance, subscriptions, and any other recurring costs. Don't include rent itself—that's what we're calculating. Be honest about your spending to get accurate results.
How much should I save while renting?
Financial experts recommend saving 10-20% of your net income, but the right amount depends on your goals. If you're building an emergency fund, saving for a down payment, or paying off debt, you might want to save more. Our calculator lets you adjust the slider to find the balance that works for your situation. Even saving 10% consistently will build your financial security over time.
What if my expenses exceed my income?
If your monthly expenses are higher than your take-home pay, you need to address this before looking for a rental. Consider ways to reduce expenses, increase income, or both. The calculator will alert you if this happens, helping you identify the problem before you commit to rent you can't afford.
How much rent can I afford on $50,000 a year?
With a $50,000 annual salary, your monthly gross income is about $4,167. After taxes (roughly 25%), your net income is approximately $3,125/month. Using our expenses-first method, you'd subtract your monthly expenses (debts, utilities, groceries, etc.) from $3,125, then split the remainder between rent and savings. For example, if you have $1,000/month in expenses, you'd have $2,125 available. With a 70/30 split, you could afford about $1,488/month in rent while saving $637/month. Use the calculator above with your actual expenses for a personalized answer.
What if I can't find rent I can afford?
If the rent affordability calculator shows you can't afford the apartments you're looking at, consider: getting a roommate (can reduce costs 30-50%), looking in less expensive neighborhoods, negotiating rent with landlords, finding a guarantor if you don't meet income requirements, or temporarily living with family to save up. You can also use the slider to see if allocating more to rent (less to savings) temporarily works for your situation.
Ready to Find Out How Much Rent You Can Truly Afford?
Use our rent affordability calculator above to see exactly what you can afford based on your real expenses. Enter your income and monthly costs, then use the slider to find your ideal balance between rent and savings. No arbitrary rules—just your personalized budget.